Ft. Washington, MD — Entering 2020, Precision Blue Chip was having trouble finishing miles. The 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding had made the top three 17 times in 42 lifetime starts. The year of the pandemic has proven to be the year of his life. Sunday night (Oct. 11), Precision Blue Chip beat the top level at Rosecroft in the Maryland Exclusive Open for the second straight week in 1:52 on a sloppy oval.

Leaving from post eight, driver Jason Thompson gave the nine time winner in 2020 a perfect journey. The duo hit the quarter pole in :26.4 and then yielded to even money favorite Romantic Interest who led the field through fractions of :55.2 and 1:24. Frank Milby throttled down the favorite despite pressure from Rollinlikethunder who attacked first over in his first start since Aug. 2. As those two dueled down the backside, Thompson bided his time in the pocket and dove into the passing lane and picked up the victory by a half-length over Romantic Interest.

Owner-trainer Courtney Brooks has led the turnaround, as her charge has now won three straight and six of his last eight.

Ironically, he has been a Rodney Dangerfield in that streak at the betting window, handsomely rewarding his backers Sunday night at 7-1. In his three race winning streak he has closed in :27.4, :27.1, and :27.4.

In early non-betting Maryland Sires Stakes competition, Breeze Away B, a 3-year old Nuclear Breeze filly, won for the 10th time in 17 lifetime starts for owner-trainer William Fletcher. She won in hand in 1:55.3 for Allan Davis.

In the other 3-year old distaff division, Frank Milby and Hillbilly Kisses, a daughter of Rusty’s For Real, wired the field in 1:54.2, a new lifetime mark, for owner Hillbilly Haven Farms and trainer Brian Callahan. She and Breeze Away B have a nice rivalry going in stakes competition in Maryland and Virginia and these two are on a collision course in the Maryland Fall Final in two weeks. Hillbilly Kisses is now 6-for-10 this year, and 7-for-14 lifetime.

Two divisions for sophomore trotting fillies went to Trout’s Legacy for Roger Plante, trainer Steve LeBlanc, and owner Dr. William Solomon. The daughter of Charlie De Vie won in a lifetime best 1:57.1.

In the second division, Gooreatness went wire-to-wire for Russell Foster and owner-trainer Richard Hans, stopping the clock in a career best 1:57.

The 3-year-old colt pacing division is deep and Sunday night Fantastic Voyage and Allan Davis won a thrilling duel with Nvrfearlloydishere in 1:53.3, equaling a lifetime best for owner Dawn Amiss and trainer Shaun Callahan. The son of Cool Flying Fun pulled first over with three-eighths of a mile remaining and eventually wore down the premier winner in the group in 2020.

The 3-year-old colt trotters have been chasing Yall Beneath Me for two seasons now and have only beaten him once in 13 lifetime starts as the son of Googoo Gaagaa rolled to a 12-1/2 length victory in 1:57.3 over 63-1 shot Kwitchyerbellakin. Russell Foster is the pilot for the defending division champion for owner-trainer Richard Hans.

Milby, Foster, Allan Davis, and Jonathan Roberts all had multiple wins on the pari-mutuel card.